Conductor bar support



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May 21, 1963 R. F. DEHN CONDUCTOR BAR SUPPORT Filed June 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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f77- NEYS United States Patent O 3,090,849 CUNDUCTR BAR SUPPORT? Roy F. Dcha, Wicirlie, Ghio, assigner to The Cleveiaud Crane 8: Engineering Company, Wickliie, Ghio, a corporation of hio Fiied .lune 4, 1958, Ser. No. 739,805 4 Claims. (Cl. 191-23) The present invention relates to electric current distribution systems of the type where in current is conducted from or to a movable contact member in engagement with and movable along an elongated conductor bar, and more particularly, to the conductor bar of such a system and to a means for supporting the conductor bar.

Systems of the type referred -to are employed, for example, on electrified railroads where they are commonly referred to as the third rail system, and electriied material handling apparatus such as, overhead traveling cranes, and monorail carrier systems, etc.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a new and novel distribution system of the character referred to comprising a rigid rod or bar-like elongated continuous conductor or conductor bar having pressure type, non-expansion splices, in combination with means for supporting the conductor bar so as to allow for expension and contraction of the conductor without distortion.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages of ythe invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following disclosure and description of apparatus embodying the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a section of an electrified, overhead monorail system including a power propelled trolley or carrier embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. l, through the monorail and trolley conductor bars mounted thereon showing the trolley or carrier in end elevation;

FiG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the track portion of FIG. 2, with parts in section; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. l.

While the present invention is susceptible of being embodied in different structures, and of being used with various types of equipment, it is herein shown and described as embodied in an overhead, monorail, material handling system having a power-propelled trolley, in the present instance a carrier A, incorporating an electric hoist mechanism. The carrier A is movable along a track or runway formed by a monorail B for transporting materials from one location to another.

The monorail B comprises a vertical web 15 having laterally projecting horizontal lianges i6, 17' along its lower edge and upon which the carrier A is suppofted by longitudinally spaced sets of tianged rail wheels 1S, 19 for movement along the rail. The carrier further comprises a load bar 24B suspended between yoke or frame members to which the sets of Wheels 18, 19 are connected and vto which the bar 20 and in turn the electric hoist mechanism or hoist -21 is connected.

The hoist 21 includes the usual cable drum 22 driven by an electric motor 23. The carrier A further comprises an electric motor 24 carried by the rear frame member 25 and connected to the rear pair of wheels 19 for propelling the carrier along the rail B. The carrier A is of commercial construction and will not be further described except to say that the motors Z3, 24 are controlled from a push-button station 26 on the carrier.

The power for operating the electric motors on the carrier is supplied from longitudinally extending conductor bars 30, 31, 32 mounted alongside the monorail B. In the system illustrated, the motors on the carrier are of the three-phase alternating current type, therefore three conductor bars are provided. The power is transferred from the conductor bars to the carrier by three collector shoes 33, 34, 35 mounted on the carrier A and supported to slidably engage with the lower downwardly facing bottom surface of the conductor bars 30, 31, 32, respectively. The collector shoes and manner in which they are supported on the carrier are conventional and form no part of the present invention.

The conductor bars 30, 31, 32 are identical, are made of extruded aluminum and have a cross sectional shape similar to that of an inverted boldface roman capital y, i.e. The conductors extend along the runway or track and are supported from the upper or beam part of the rail B by brackets 4t?, 4l, 42, respectively, spaced at suitable distances longitudinally of the track or runway. The brackets 49, 41 are identical and attached to the web l5 of the rail B in the same manner and only the bracket 46 will be described in detail. The duplicate parts of the bracket 411 will be indicated by the same reference characters with prime marks aixed thereto.

The bracket 40 is of inverted U-shape form and has a horizontal base 50 from which two tines Si, 52 project in a downwardly direction. The tine 51 nearest therail A is, so to speak, extended vertically in both directions to provide upwardly and downwardly projecting lugs 5?, 54. The lug 53 projects above the base 50 of the bracket and has a hole 55 therein through which projects the shank of a cap screw 56 used in connecting the bracket tol an insulator 57. The screw 56 projects horizontally through the hole 55 in the lug 53 and is threaded into a short bushing 58 in the adjoining end of the insulator. The insulator 57 is connected to the web of the rail by a cap screw 59, the shank of which projects through a hole in the rail and the projecting end of which is threaded into a bushing 60 similar to the bushing 5%. The hole in the web of the rail has an insulating grommet 6i therein which together with insulating washers 62, 63 at opposite sides of the web of the rail insulatesthe screw 59 from the rail. A lock washer 64 is employed underneath the head of each of the cap screws.

The downwardly projecting lug 540i the bracket di) is provided with a tapped aperture 65 and is connected to the insulator 71 by a stud 66 threaded into the aperture 65 and the bushing 67 in the adjacent end of the insulator which insulator is similar to the insulator 57. The insulator 7i -is connected to the web of the rail by a cap screw 63 in a manner similar to that in which the insulator 57 is connected thereto.

The conductor bar 30 is supported or carried by two rollers or wheels 75, 76 rotatably supported on stud shaft 77, 78 tlxedly secured in suitable aligned apertures Si), Sl in the tines 51, 52, respectively, of the brackets. The stud shafts 77, 78 are normal to the web 84 of the conductor bar and the wheels engage underneath horizontal flanges 82, 33 of the conductor bar Sti which project in opposite directions from the central vertical web 84 of the conductor bar adjacent to its upper edge and which flanges correspond to the serifs of the Y. The surfaces $5, 36 on the underside of the flanges 82., 83 and which surfaces are engaged by rolls or Wheels 75, 76, respectively, are spaced above the bottom surface engaged by the current collector 33. The rollers 75, 76 are preferably made of non-metallic material having electrical insulating properties, such as, ber, plastic, etc., for example, nylon, and the like, but

As shown, each of `the brackets 42 is connected to the Y underside of a plate 93 welded to and projecting from Ithe upper ilange 94 of the rail B. In this instance, the insulators 95, 96, corresponding with the insulators S7, 71 which support the lbracket 40, are provided rwith inverted cup-shaped members or skirts 97, 98, made of insulating material and Vwhich protect the insulators from dirt, etc.

Each of the brackets 42 is connected to the plate 93 by cap screws, washers and grommets in a manner similar to that in which the brackets 49 are connected to the web '15 ofthe rail. The brackets 42 comprise rollers or wheels 99, 1Go corresponding with Vthe bracket rollers 75, 76 of the brackets 46). The rollers 99, 160 support the conduck tor bar 32. The fact that each of the brackets 4u, 41 and 42 are connected to their supporting structure by two insulato'rs prevents distortion of the brackets which might 'cause binding and prevent free movement of the conductor ybars therein. t

The co-nductor bars are preferably iixed against length- Wise movement at approximately their mid-points thus allowing each end free to expand and contact as required. In the embodiment shown, the conductor bar 39 is connected to the web of the rail 1S at approximately its mid-point yby an insulator 1611 similar to the insulator 57 and connected to the web of the conductor bar and to the web of the rail by cap screws 102, 103 in a manner similar to that in which the projecting lug 53 of the bracket '40 is connected to `the web of the rail. In this instance, however, tubular-like spacers 164, 105 preferably made of insulating material are employed at opposite ends of the insulator 101 since the distance between the conductorV bar and the web of the rail is greater than the distance between the lug 53 and Vthe web yof the rail.

The-conductor bar 31 is connected to the web of the rail against longitudinal movement at about its midpoint, as shown in VFIGURE 4, by an insulator 106 in a manner similar to that in which the conductor bar 30 is connected, by the insulator 161 to the web of the rail. The conductor bar 32 is connected, against longitudinal movement at approximately its mid-point by being connected to the web of the conductor bar 31 by an insulator 107 similar to the insulator 101 in a manner similar to that in which the conductor bars 30 and 31 are connected to the web of the rail. As will be understood, the insulators 101, 106 and V11W are offset with respect to one another a short distance longitudinally of the rail to accommodate their respective cap screws, etc.

According to the present invention, the conductor bars are supported for relatively free movement lengthwise of the runway or track. This is particularly important in any system which incorporates long runs of tracks and where provision must be made Yfor expansion and contraction of the conductor bars. The rollers which support the yconductorrrbars are made of material which is non-corrosive so -that there will be no tendency for the conductor bars to stick or adhere thereto which would'interfere with .their free movement lengthwise of the track of runway. As previously stated, the conductor bars are preferably made of extruded aluminum and the aluminum of which they are made is preferably relatively pure, so as to obtain the highest possible electric conductivity. Unless conduc- .tor bars of the character referred to are so mounted that they can move freely incident to expansion and contraction, they will buckle and deform during use.

If desired, the conductor bars may be maintained under a continuous slight tens-ion by connecting the ends of the conductor bars to some permanent part of the supporting structure or the rail by a ltension spring, such as the spring 110 shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The bracket rollers, in addition to supporting the conductor bars in such a manner that they are free to move lengthwise upon contraction and expansion, etc., if made of metal, may also be used to conduct electric current from the brackets to the conductor bars. Current, however, is preferably conducted to the conductor bars by a current conductor connected directly to the conductor bar.

From ythe forego-ing description of the preferred embodiment of 4the invention, it will be apparent that the objects herebefore enumerated and others have been accomplished, and that there has been provided a novel and improved electriccurrent distribution system comprising continuous bar or bar-like elongated conductors free of expansion joints in combination with means for supporting the same in such a manner that they will be free to move incident to expansion and contraction, etc. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, as is understood, the invention is not limited to the panticular details of construction shown and it is the intention to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications, and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the Vinvention relates, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: 1. In a material handling device having a track, an apparatus on said -track and movable therealong, electrical equipment on said apparatus and-an electric current contact member on said apparatus and electrically connected to said electrical equipment, an electrical conductor system comprising: a rigid, elongated bar-type electric current conductor of predetermined length formed of a material which expands or contracts upon change in its temperature and adapted to be engaged by said contact member, means iixedly anchoring said bar-type conductor at only one point throughout its said predeterminedr length against bodily movement lengthwise, and, means rollably engaging and lsupporting said bar-type conductor adapted so that the conductor is free to expand and/or contract without deformation Arelative tosaid engaging and supporting means but is xed against lengthwise bodily movet ment. t

2. In a material handling device having a track, an apparatus on said track and movable therealong, electrical equipment on said apparatus, and an electric current contact memberton said apparatus and electrically connected to ysaid electrical equipment, an electrical conductor system comprising: a rigid, elongated bar-type electric current conductor of predetermined length formed of a materialV which expands or contracts upon change in its temperature and adapted to be engaged by said Contact member, means iixedlyV anchoring said bar-type conductor only at approximately the midpoint of its length `to prevent bodily movement lengthwise, and means rollably engaging and supporting said bar-type conductor adapted lso that the conductor is free to expand and/or contract without deformation relative to said engaging and supporting means but is fixed against lengthwise bodily movement.

3. In a material handling device vhaving a track, an

and having a longitudinally extending smooth continuous l contact surface adjacent to one side adapted to be engaged and traversed longitudinally by `said contact member on said `@aparatos as `said apparatus travels along said track, said bar-type conductor having a surface on each of two of its opposite `sides adjacent to said one side, said snrfaces on said opposite sides of said bar-type conductor being spaced from said Contact surface of said bar-type conductor and facing in the same general direction as said one side, means supporting said bar-type conductor, said last named means comprising roller members directly engaging said surface on said opposite sides of said bartype conductor, means supporting said roller members along said track for rotation about axes generally normal to the central plane of -said bar-type conductor intermediate said surfaces on said opposite sides of said bar-type conductor, and means xedly anchoring said bar-type conductor extending along said track at only one point throughout its length against bodily movement lengthwise of said track whereby said bar-type conductor extending along said track is Xed against bodily movement lengthwise of said track but is free to expand and/or contract without deformation.

4. ln a material handling device having a track, an apparatus on said track and movable therealong, electrical equipment on said apparatus, and an electric current contact member on said apparatus and electrically connected to said electrical equipment, van electric conductor system comprising: an elongated bar-type electric current conductor formed of material which expands or contracts upon change in its temperature extending along said track said bar-type conductor having a transverse cross-sectional shape similar to that of a boldface Roman capital y with the surfaces of the tines facing one another serving as a longitudinally extending smooth continuous contact surface to be engaged and traversed longitudinally by said contact member on said apparatus as said apparatus travels along said track, means supporting said bartype conductor, said last named means comprising roller members directly engaging the sides of the flanges of said bar-type conductor corresponding to the serifs of the y which sides face the tines, means supporting said roller members along said track for rotation about axes generally normal to the plane of the web of said bar-type conductor, and means xedly anchoring said bar-type condnctor extending `along said track at only one point throughout its length against bodily movement lengthwise of said track whereby said bar-type conductor extending along said track is fixed against bodily movement lengthwise of said track but is free to expand and/or contract Without deformation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,128,029 Montgomery Feb. 9, 1915 1,623,920 Harris Apr. 5, 1927 2,416,352 Seward Feb. 25, 1947 2,640,114 Wehr May 26, 1953 2,704,037 Babcock et al Mar. 15, 1955 2,824,913 Taylor Feb. 25, 1958 2,881,271 Anjesky Apr. 7, 1959 2,931,097 Sornes Apr. 5, 1960 2,933,567 Mageoch Apr. 19, 1960 2,953,626 Somes Sept. 20, 1960 2,969,438 Herrmann et al Jan. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 729,434 Germany Dec. 16, 1942 

1. IN A MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE HAVING A TRACK, AN APPARATUS ON SAID TRACK AND MOVABLE THEREALONG, ELECTRICAL EQUIPEMENT ON SAID APPARATUS AND AN ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTACT MEMBER ON SAID APPARATUS AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR SYSTEM COMPRISING: A RIGID, ELONGATED BAR-TYPE ELECTRIC CURRENT CONDUCTOR OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH FORMED OF A MATERIAL WHICH EXPANDS OR CONTRACTS UPON CHANGE IN ITS TEMPERATURE AND ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID CONTACT MEMBER, MEANS FIXEDLY ANCHORING SAID BAR-TYPE CONDUCTOR AT ONLY ONE POINT THROUGHOUT ITS SAID PREDETERMINED LENGTH AGAINT BODILY MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE, AND MEANS ROLLABLY ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING SAID BAR-TYPE CONDUCTOR ADAPTED SO THAT THE CONDUCTOR IS FREE TO EXPAND AND/OR CONTRACT WITHOUT DEFORMATION RELATIVE TO SAID ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING MEANS BUT IS FIXED AGAINST LENGTHWISE BODILY MOVEMENT. 